Few tragedies have polarized the quiet town of Dover, literally a bend in the road between Russellville and Jasper on Scenic Highway 7, like the upcoming January 2007 trial of Kevin Jones for the murder of Nona Dirksmeyer.

An emotional division among the community's approximately 1,400 members regarding the upcoming trial is almost palpable here.

Even though the murder took place in Russellville, both Dirksmeyer and Jones graduated from Dover High School. Understandably, both young people shared friendships with many of the same classmates and neighbors.

But in December 2005, one life was ended; now, the other's fate will be decided by a jury.

Dirksmeyer was a former beauty queen, church choir member, local college student and civic volunteer. Jones was a former vice-president of the Arkansas Beta Club. He worked in a local restaurant and his family's business. Dover's people know, or believe they know, their stories.

In fact, the people here know something about the lives of many faces they see in the local grocery store, at high school games and at the local eateries. People in Dover live among friends and generally tend to feel safe. Crime shouldn't have a home in Dover.

Simmons' rampage and Nona Dirksmeyer's murder reminds us desperate people do desperate things in all societies.

Someone was certainly desperate the day Dirksmeyer was killed, but even so, people need to believe that justice is possible for both the victim and the accused.

A fair trial is a hallmark of our society. Justice, fairness - are they ideals we merely pay lip service to, ideals we might sometimes strive for but seldom, if ever, attain?

Although emotions may run high in Dover, there are still many community members who feel for the families of both Dirksmeyer and Jones. There are still many people who refuse to make up their minds about Jones'' guilt or innocence. They wait for 12 of their own to decide the issue for the whole community.

These people try to remember that everyone has a mother and everyone has a father. If it were their son accused, or if it were their daughter killed, what would they hope for? If Dirksmeyer and Jones were both your friends at one time, where would your loyalty reside?

Are we expecting too much of our judicial system if we expect an impartial and fair trial given the histories of the families in this small community?

For the sake of all our sons and daughters, we must trust that it will.